Panel examines state sexual harassment legislation, #MeToo movement

Times Unions’s Tina Tyler, left moderates the panel at the Hearst Media Center during a discussion entitled; #MeToo Hashtag to Understanding and Action Tuesday June 12, 2018, in Loudonville, N.Y. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

A panel of experts weighed in on workplace sexual harassment, how it’s being addressed legislatively, and how to achieve real change at the latest TU CapCon breakfast at the Hearst Media Center in Colonie on Tuesday.

Much of the discussion was focused on the sexual harassment legislation that was addressed in this year’s state budget.

“The most significant part of the legislation is that all employers, regardless of size, are required to have a sexual harassment policy and provide training to all of their employees — that’s huge,” said Burger.

Burger noted that it was still unclear what “teeth” the legislation would have, given the pending model sexual harassment policy and regulations that are to be produced by the state Department of Labor and Division of Human Rights by October 1.

Simon noted that the budget provided additional money for the state Division of Human Rights, so that it could become more responsive to woman who filed complaints. She addressed common criticisms about policy measures being addressed through New York’s notoriously opaque budget process.

“Everyone complains about it and says ‘why are we doing that?’ Well, because we can,” Simon said. There is always a better bill, but “what happens between budget and the end of session depends on the politics of the moment.”

The 31-31 deadlocked State Senate, and the fact that it’s an election year, makes it unlikely that anything non-controversial can get done outside of the budget this year, Simon said.

The panelists also discussed how the #MeToo social media movement placed sexual harassment at the forefront, enabling more people to speak out about mistreatment in the workplace.

“Once that ball started rolling, everyone started to find, we need to have this dialogue,” Miller said. “Social media — and society not agreeing with the status quo — has made a difference.”

What’s the solution? Teaching younger children in school about bodily autonomy and what is appropriate in schools is critical, Simon said. Lawmakers in both houses of the Legislature are working on the creation of a curriculum that addresses consent every age group, from kindergarten to college, she said.